Leon Cameron is stepping down as GWS coach after an indifferent start to AFL season 2022 and 10 years in charge without a premiership for the NSW expansion club.

“I know I’ve still got the players but it’s a zapping job… but in saying that, that’s not just the one reason,” the 49-year-old said at a press conference announcing his resignation on Thursday.

GWS sources earlier told The Age the split as an “amicable separation”, with Cameron to coach this weekend against Carlton, before former Essendon midfielder Mark McVeigh takes over as caretaker at the AFL’s 18th club.

“I’ve been in the game for 34 years straight… but you never say never.”

Leon Cameron on his coaching future in the game.

Watch LIVE: https://t.co/wcP7OwpjGD pic.twitter.com/twZYmE0YSZ

— AFL (@AFL) May 12, 2022

The split with GWS comes just months after Cameron came third in the Allan Jeans award, the AFL Coaches Association prize for coach of the year. In an award voted on by every senior and assistant coach in the AFL, Cameron was considered by his peers to have done an outstanding job in 2021 with the players he had available.

The Giants have just two wins so far in season 2022 – against the Suns and Adelaide. The Giants and Cameron had said publicly and separately that there would be no chance of contract talks until the end of the season.

Press PLAY below to hear Gareth Parker with the breaking news on 6PR Breakfast

Leon Cameron to announce he’s standing down as @GWSGIANTS coach.

8.5 years in charge, five finals series.

Knocked out in two preliminary finals and reached the club’s first Grand Final in 2019.@6PRbreakfast @9NewsPerth

— Paddy Sweeney (@SweeneyPaddy9) May 11, 2022